OEMs and the Export Model for Safety

March 13, 2013

As even small and mid-sized machinery manufacturers increasingly sell their products on a global basis, it’s not just U.S. safety standards that must be adhered to.

David Greenfield, editor in chief

In fact, an increasing number of OEMs are following European safety requirements not only to help with overseas sales, but to boost sales in the U.S. through increased safety aspects.

To help you understand the structure of European machine safety standards, see the chart below from Siemens Industry.

According to Siemens Industry, when using type C Standards, they should be checked to ensure that they are up-to-date. It should also be noted that it is not mandatory to apply the standard; however, the safety objectives must be achieved.

If there are no specific European standards that apply to a given circumstance for an OEM, the manufacturer can then apply “national standards” appropriate to the area in which the machine is to be sold and used. Siemens notes that, by applying ratified standards, “the manufacturer can prove that recognized state-of-the-art technology was fulfilled.”

>> Read Automation World's complete coverage: Adapting To The New Machine Safety Standard

About the Author

David Greenfield, editor in chief | Editor in Chief

David Greenfield joined Automation World in June 2011. Bringing a wealth of industry knowledge and media experience to his position, David’s contributions can be found in AW’s print and online editions and custom projects. Earlier in his career, David was Editorial Director of Design News at UBM Electronics, and prior to joining UBM, he was Editorial Director of Control Engineering at Reed Business Information, where he also worked on Manufacturing Business Technology as Publisher.